Privacy Policy

Introduction

Hello! This website, https://www.1stbreakaccounting.com.au/, is owned and operated by 1st Break Accounting Pty Ltd (ABN: 57 615 906 655). If you have any questions or need further information, please contact:

Rachel Forward

1ba-admin@1stbreak.com.au

This document sets out our Privacy Policy. It describes how we collect and manage your personal information when you interact with this site.  1st Break Accounting Pty Ltd takes this responsibility very seriously. If you have any questions or concerns about how your personal information is being handled, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We choose to voluntarily comply with the Australian Privacy Principles set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).

Personal Information

If you engage with us via this website or choose to become our client we may ask to collect the following kinds of personal information from you, including:

  • your name and email address

  • the country that you live in

  • your opinion about future topics, products or services that may interest you

  • information that allows us to tailor my content to your needs when you sign up for one of our webinars or promotional events

Collection and Use

We may collect your personal information by various means including:

  • an opt-in form for our mailing list

  • when you email us

  • automatically, through the use of cookies

We use this information to:

  • respond to your enquiries

  • provide you with relevant news and updates about our services

  • improve this website and the services we provide

We will only collect your personal information:

  • with your full awareness and consent, such as when you email us, tick a checkbox or fill in a form to provide us with information

  • if we need it to provide you with information or services that you request

  • if we are legally required to collect it

  • for necessary administrative processes if you become our client

  • if we believe that we can demonstrate a legitimate interest in using your data for marketing purposes, although we will always give you a choice to opt-out.

Sensitive Information

We understand that some personal information is particularly sensitive, and that you are trusting us to keep this information confidential.

We will only collect sensitive information by methods that are reasonably secure, such as:

  • through our intake form in VCita when you book an appointment

  • in a zoom consultation or face to face

  • when you send us information in an email (please note that email may not be sufficiently secure – if the information is extremely sensitive, ask us about alternative ways to share it with us.)

The reason why we collect this information is:

  • so that we can provide you with the services you have requested from us

  • to ensure that we are providing you with the most appropriate services

The sensitive information we ask you to provide for this purpose may include:

  • your birth date (if required in the provision of a particular service)

  • your financial data

  • information about your lifestyle and relationships

We are committed to securely storing and handling your sensitive information.

  • Sensitive information is stored on a password-protected computer.

  • Only authorised team members may access sensitive material.

  • Some sensitive information may be stored securely online, or in the cloud through OneDrive and Xero. You can find out more about their security provisions in the section on Security below.

All archived sensitive information is securely destroyed after 7 years.

You may choose not to provide us with your sensitive information. However,

  • if you choose not to be completely honest with us, we may not be able to provide you with the services that you request.

  • as a Tax Agent 1st Break Accounting Pty Ltd is legally required to identify our clients by collecting their name and address, a photo ID and failure to provide this information means we cannot offer our services to you.

Disclosure of Information

We may disclose your information to provide you with the services you have requested. In order to do this, we may share some relevant information - on a strictly need to know basis - with our virtual assistants (VA) and contractors.

We will also disclose your information if required by law to do so or in circumstances permitted by the Privacy Act – for example, where we have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is engaging in unlawful activity or misconduct of a serious nature, that relates to our functions or activities, and in response to a subpoena, discovery request or a court order.

If you have any concerns regarding the disclosure of your information in this context, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss this personally.

We will use all reasonable means to protect the confidentiality of your information while in our possession or control. We will not knowingly share any of your information with any third party other than the service providers who assist us in providing the information and/or services we are providing to you. To the extent that we do share your information with a service provider, we would only do so if that party has agreed to comply with our privacy standards or we are satisfied that the service provider has a suitably protective policy of their own. Some of our service providers may be overseas and may not be subject to Australian Privacy Laws. Please contact us if you have any concerns about the potential disclosure of your information.

Security

We take reasonable physical, technical and administrative safeguards to protect your personal and sensitive information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorised access, modification and disclosure.

We manage risks to your information by:

  • storing files securely

  • ensuring that only key personnel have access to sensitive information

  • releasing information to service providers on a strictly need-to-know basis

  • conducting regular audits of our security systems

As mentioned above, your information may also be stored with a third-party provider, where it will be managed under their security policy. The following security policies may apply during our work together:

From time to time we may combine information provided by you with information gathered from:

  • Facebook

  • LinkedIn

  • your Website

  • personal contact

If you do not wish this to occur, please contact us.

Cookies and Google Analytics

Cookies are small text files that are commonly used by websites to improve a user’s experience, collect statistics or marketing information and provide access to secure areas.

You can choose to configure your browser settings not to accept cookies

Access to Information

You can contact us to access, correct or update your personal information at any time. Unless we are subject to a confidentiality obligation or some other restriction on giving access to the information which permits us to refuse you access under the Privacy Act, and we believe there is a valid reason for doing so, we will endeavour to make your information available you within 30 days.

Complaints

If a breach of this Privacy Policy occurs, or if you wish to request a change to your personal information, you may contact us by sending an email outlining your concerns to us at 1ba-admin@1stbreak.com.au.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint you may seek a review by contacting:

Notification of Change

If we decide to change our Privacy Policy, we will post a copy of the revised policy on our website.

Notification of Breach

If we have reason to suspect that a serious data breach has occurred and that this may result in harm or loss to you, we will immediately assess the situation and take appropriate remedial action. If we still believe that you are at risk, we will notify the Office of the Information Commissioner and either notify you directly, or if that is not possible, publicise a notification of the breach on this website.